Getting the best of Bres

Australia heads into the next stage of qualification in high spirits but Holger Osieck should change his formation to ensure his side's spectacular second-half display becomes a trend.

The biggest positive to come out of the Socceroos come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Saudi Arabia was undoubtedly the spirit shown by the players. There are few teams that would show this commitment in a dead-rubber game and that is certainly to the players' credit.

Osieck's decisions to recall Mark Bresciano and game-changing substitute Archie Thompson were fully vindicated but the tactics he employed contributed to the side having to stage the remarkable comeback - the two dubiously disallowed goals from Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill notwithstanding.

The policy of playing central defenders Jade North and Matthew Spiranovic as full backs did not work. In addition to offering little threat going forward they were also a liability defensively with Mohammad Al-Sahlawi roasting Spiranovic on the right flank especially when setting up the chance that could easily have put the 'Roos 3-1 down.

Looking to the future this is not too much of a concern as neither is likely to play in the position in matches that matter. If you put Luke Wilkshire in at right back and Matt McKay on the left the team would be provided with much of the vitality it lacked until Thompson's introduction.

Bresciano showed how much he has to offer and gave a creative edge that the side has sorely missed in his absence. Osieck called him "the game-dominating element."

However, playing as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2 he is likely to be a liability defensively.

Admittedly he was not helped out by Mark Milligan who has hardly been a shining light since joining the Melbourne Victory and will be fortunate to stay in the squad when the full midfield options come back for the next qualification stage.

The way the Saudis were able to move through Australia when minded to do so, seen with the first goal, showed the issues of Bresciano playing in this role.

Although midfielders with attacking instincts such as Paul Scholes have performed such duties well, they often have years of experience to help them take up correct positions which Bresciano at 32 coming from further up the field does not have.

And to concentrate overly on converting Bresciano to a conventional midfielder may nullify the former Lazio man's incisive passing.

So to have full impact it may be better to switch to a midfield three where his forward instincts could be covered easier. Bresciano would take up the position in front of the other two midfielders and if age or injuries catch up with him before Brazil 2014, young Central Coast Mariners' starlet Tomas Rogic can be groomed for this role.

Mile Jedinak seems the best option holding and Tim Cahill could be revitalised by playing in a deeper position where he can run onto the ball - as the Everton man's starting position on the pitch has got higher his goal output for club and country has decreased.

Osieck would seem likely to prefer Brett Emerton to Cahill and the former Blackburn man's second-half goal and assist showed that at this stage in his career he is more dangerous when not trapped on the right flank, where he was again largely ineffective for the first hour.

James Troisi was similarly quiet. With full-backs who can attack like Wilkshire and McKay Australia is likely to lose little wide threat from a switch to a three-man midfield.

Upront Alex Brosque has certainly earned a prolonged run. Having played deeper in Japan it was a concern that he would not do as well as the spearhead but he performed admirably and took both goals superbly.

A forward line with him alongside Kewell and Brett Holman would create a fluid formation with plenty of movement that any team, certainly in Asia, will find hard to contain.

It would also allow the Australian side to take advantage of its dynamic nature. Though some would like a system based on patient, possession football it is neither suited to the skill set, nor mentality of the players at Osieck's disposal.

And although a high energy style may be difficult on occasion in away qualification games in Asia it should not be a problem to play in the tournament itself which takes place in the Brazilian winter.

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